Tuesday

I rapidly realized that Barbara cannot cope with all the nurses and doctors and her own revoering body and feed the babies at night, so I stayed and managed to give them both their first feedings. One lasted 45mins.

Today they are scheduled for a blood screening test that covers about 40 different things and a blood draw to test for jaundice. I knew this was going to be the most invasive procedure yet so I postponed it while Mom and babies were sleeping so they could get a little rest.

They arrived at 9am. Nico was screaming a lot and Luca started off that way but seemed to reluctantly give in after a little while.

They prick the heel and then proceed to squeeze the hell out of it to get enough blood to fill a small vile and soak 5 circles on a paper. It was torture for them... and us!

I wanted to stay a little while so that Barbara could use a stroller to get a little walking exercise. Then the doctors descended on us. First the OBGYN and then the Peadiatrician.

The Jaundice results are borderline (which is common in premature babies because liver function is not well developed. Therapy consists of blue lamps and they must gain weight (one of the risk factors.

I left at noon with two nurses and a lactation consultant feeding the babies to get the milk into them. We have to reduce the risk of Jaundice.

Barbara is on a mild pain medication, but still very out of it. There are big decisions I havve to make almost every day, with little sleep, it is hard and stressful.